At a time when cynicism masquerades as wisdom and fundamentalism as religiosity, Moses the Hertic offers a much needed antidote. It asks the questions, What would a Biblical Prophet look like in the 21st century? How might he fight to change our world? And how would the world as we know it fight right back at him?In the character of Rabbi Moses Levine, Spiro portrays what the Biblical Moses might be like were he active today. Like his contemporaries, Moses Levine is no miracle worker. He must cope with the limitations of his humanity. A tireless and impassioned worker for equity, truth, peace and environmental stewardship, Moses enjoys tremendous success but at the cost of an ever-growing set of enemies desperate to destroy his reputation and legacy.
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Editorial Reviews
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Adventurous and daring, Daniel Spiro's novel challenges our understanding of the Middle East and gets to the core of the region's tragedy as nonfiction so rarely does. His modern Moses is comic and heartbreaking, much like the real peace process on which this insightful novel provides such sorrowful commentary. --Matt Beynon Rees, author of A Grave in Gaza and The Collaborator of Bethlehem
An extraordinary treatment of a Biblical hero imagined into contemporary times saying those things that need to be said even when they confuse, irritate or enrage the listeners. Readers will alternately respect Moses Levine, wish he would curb his excesses, wonder why he won't say exactly what they want him to, curse him for being too human and then respect him again for opening a way to tolerance, understanding, and peaceful coexistence. Speaks truth to confront the religious struggles and divides of our time. --Rabbi Harold Schulweis, author of For Those Who Can't Believe and founder of Jewish World Watch
This is a deeply philosophical and perfectly paced gripping novel. Like all great works of art, and indeed like its main character, Rabbi Moses Levine, it will mean different things to different people... For me, as a Muslim, this novel struck a powerful and compelling chord. The parallels between the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, and the Muslim ta'aruf and islah were eyeopening. Rabbi Levine's pursuit of hikma (wisdom), empathy, humility and beauty in all aspects of life embody the very principles that are supposed to guide the life of faithful Muslims. Whether one ultimately agrees with Rabbi Levine's choices and actions or not, if there is any wisdom in this world, the Rabbi will become famous with millions of readers from every faith all around the world. --Professor Khaled Abou El Fadl, UCLA School of Law, and author of The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists
Spiro creates compelling arguments for his modern Moshe, and places him in a story with lots of action - kidnapping, murder plots, fistfights, synagogue politics. I found the philosophy and theology absorbing and convincing. If Moses Levine really walked among us, I'd probably join his movement....I enoyed the book. It would be an interesting choice for a discusson group. Spiro forces his readers to confront their own assumptions about Israel and Zionism, and offers a provocative and persuasive alternative to the standard arguments. --Modern Mitzvot
Spiro creates compelling arguments for his modern Moshe, and places him in a story with lots of action - kidnapping, murder plots, fistfights, synagogue politics. I found the philosophy and theology absorbing and convincing. If Moses Levine really walked among us, I'd probably join his movement....I enoyed the book. It would be an interesting choice for a discusson group. Spiro forces his readers to confront their own assumptions about Israel and Zionism, and offers a provocative and persuasive alternative to the standard arguments. --Modern Mitzvot
Adventurous and daring, Daniel Spiro's novel challenges our understanding of the Middle East and gets to the core of the region's tragedy as nonfiction so rarely does. His modern Moses is comic and heartbreaking, much like the real peace process on which this insightful novel provides such sorrowful commentary. --Matt Beynon Rees, author of A Grave in Gaza and The Collaborator of Bethlehem
About the Author
Daniel Spiro is a graduate of Stanford University and the Harvard Law School. Spiro is a Senior Trial Counsel for the United States Department of Justice where he specializes in fighting health care fraud. He is also the Coordinator of the Washington Spinoza Society, a discussion group sponsored by the Goethe-Institut Washington. Spiro has published works on the role of religion in the public schools and the philosophy of education. In addition, he regularly blogs under the name ;Empathic Rationalist.. His first novel, The Creed Room (9780974764528), was published by Aegis Press in 2006 to critical praise.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great romp through some inner Jewish debates on present conflicts in religion and politics,
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This review is from: Moses the Heretic (Hardcover)
Spiro is to be commended in how his characters engage some of the debates in the Jewish world about how Jews' understanding of that religion (and the other "Abrahamic" ones) impacts their political actions. The book treats all perspectives with, at a minimum, a respect of being well thought out if still not justified.My enjoyment came most from the tussles of the characters who put their beliefs to action. Be it Moses Levine's back and forth with Hafeez or with Rachel, the play by play is filled with nuggets that manage to humanize all stances to some degrees. Some of the main points that the title character Moses Levine strives to convince anyone who will listen include an international Jerusalem, a stress on interfaith dialogue/action Jews and Muslims, and a belief that intermarriage should not be a concern for Jews. He describes all of these within his framework of respect for fellow human dignity. Be that as it may, these are still pretty hotly contested items within the Jewish community and I found myself at odds with him for plenty of the points made their behalf. But I didn't come out unscathed as far as givens I thought I had and that's where the value of the book is for me. Closing it, I have much to rethink about my reasons for my own stances and whether they cohere within my value system. The plot moves at a nice pace, hardly standing for any drawn out descriptions. It sometimes jumps back and forth between the early days of our characters and their present ones. Spiro manages to put them in the course of events he's setting, which is a "what if" historical setup branching off the one we know in some respects. That's not to say that I think he pulls it off perfectly. I thought his portrayal of the president and congress potentially taking bold actions was a little too hopeful of how they might actually behave, even given the different course of events that Spiro introduces (sorry for the vaguness, trying to avoid spoilers). Nevertheless, the coherence of the story remains intact and there's no lack of self interested parties jockeying for position throughout. Finally, I also liked that Spiro never skips out on explaining a cultural/historical term one of his characters use as soon as it's first used. It makes the book more accessible and keeps the reader more closely involved and familiar with the culture. Overall, as said elsewhere, it's a rich novel of ideas. I ordered The Creed Room and can't wait to get started with that one.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a novel of ideas,
By
This review is from: Moses the Heretic (Hardcover)
If you love novels of ideas, you'll love this book. The protagonist, whose voice is lucid and powerful, leaps off the page and time and time again jolted me with fascinating ideas. Imagine a book that de-demonizes Islam, that imagines what might have happened if a wise counselor had prevented the Irag war, a book that strips away all unimportant distracting rituals to uncover the common heart of Judaism, Christianity and Judaism. A rare novel that both edifies and engages.Irvin Yalom M.D. (author of "When Nietzsche Wept" and "Staring at the Sun")
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Manages to be both spiritual and satiric of modern day religion,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Moses the Heretic (Hardcover)
The three Abrahamic religions have so much in common that it's shocking how much conflict exists between them. "Moses the Heretic" tells of one Moses Levine, a famed Nobel-peace prize winning Rabbi who has done much for the relationship between the three. His fame, however, is threatened by one of Moses own beliefs, one that would unite the three, but not in a way Moses would want against himself. "Moses the Heretic" manages to be both spiritual and satiric of modern day religion, a delightful blend to please readers of any faith.
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